U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer called Wednesday for JetBlue to establish service at the Albany International Airport, and to bring their new Embraer 190 Aircraft with them.

Schumer said Albany, N.Y., now has more passenger traffic than airports at either Rochester or Syracuse, two markets already served by JetBlue.

"Albany is the perfect place for JetBlue's newest jets," Schumer said. "The Capital Region's recent passenger growth and the airport renovations make it particularly well suited for the new E-190s."

Schumer said he has written to JetBlue CEO David Neeleman asking him to take a close look at initiating service in Albany.

Albany International Airport is projecting record enplanements of more than 1.6 million in 2005.

The E-190s carry about 100 passengers and are powered by twin, GE Aircraft engines. They have a range of up to 2,500 miles. The airline expects the planes to be in the air starting in the fourth quarter of 2005.

JetBlue spokesman Brandon Hamm said the airline has been happy operating out of the Rochester, Syracuse and Buffalo airports and is looking at new markets all the time.

"Sen. Schumer has been a longstanding and strong supporter of ours, and a frequent customer, and we are grateful for his friendship and will carefully look at his suggestions," Hamm said.

Doug Myers, Albany International Airport spokesman, said Schumer has been lobbying JetBlue for at least a month to have the airline set up shop in Albany. Myers said Albany International Airport CEO John O'Donnell has also been in contact with JetBlue officials.

While there are currently no empty passenger gates at the airport, Myers said space could be found.

"If JetBlue shows an interest in coming here, we'd find room for them right away," he said Wednesday.

When Independence Air wanted to begin service in 2004 from the airport, U.S. Airways gave up a gate for the new carrier, Myers said.

U.S. Airways' proposed merger with America West could also free up one gate or a ground-level gate could be fashioned for JetBlue, Myers said.

In the long-term, the authority that runs the airport has voted to move forward with the design of a new expansion for the airport. Its construction would depend on the continued increase in passenger traffic, O'Donnell said.